Ways of studying the brain

• What are the three ways of studying the brain mentioned in the material?

  FMRI, EEG, and ERP scans
• How do fMRI scans measure brain activity?

  They measure blood flow in the brain during a task.
• What is the relationship between neuron activity and energy use in fMRI scans?

  Active neurons use more energy, requiring glucose and oxygen.
• What happens to blood when neurons become active during a task?

  The blood becomes deoxygenated as oxygen is used by active neurons.
• What does an fMRI scan create to show brain activity?

  A moving 3D map of the brain highlighting active and inactive areas.
• What do EEG scans measure?

  The electrical activity of the brain.
• How do EEG scans detect brain activity?

  By placing electrodes on the scalp to detect small electrical charges.
• What is the key difference between EEG and ERP scans?

  ERP scans present a stimulus and measure changes in electrical activity.
• What is a strength of fMRI scans?

  They have good spatial resolution for locating brain activity.
• What does spatial resolution refer to in the context of fMRI scans?

  The accuracy of a scan in measuring the location of brain activity.
• What is a limitation of fMRI scans regarding temporal resolution?

  They have poor temporal resolution, detecting changes in 1-6 seconds.
• Why is it difficult to predict the onset of brain activity using fMRI scans?

  Because of their poor temporal resolution.
• What is an advantage of EEG and ERP scans compared to fMRI scans?

  They do not use radiation and are risk-free.
• What are post-mortems in the context of studying the brain?

  Examinations of a dead person's brain to assess its structure.
• Why do researchers conduct post-mortems?

  To study the brain of someone who displayed particular behaviors suggesting brain damage.
• Who is an example of a researcher that used post-mortem examinations?

  Broca
• What did Broca discover through his post-mortem examination?

  He found a lesion in the area of the brain important for speech production.
• What is a strength of post-mortem examinations?

  They provide detailed examination of anatomical structure and neurochemical aspects.
• What is a limitation of post-mortem examinations regarding causation?

  The observed behavior may not be linked to the brain damage found.
• What complicates the inference of cause and effect in post-mortem examinations?

  Damage may be related to the process of death or removal of the brain.
• What areas of the brain can post-mortem examinations access that other scans cannot?

  The hypothalamus and hippocampus.
• Why are post-mortem examinations useful for further research?

  They provide insights into deeper brain regions.